Broeks, Daphne and Knuuttila, Tarja and De Regt, Henk (2024) Understanding, virtually: How does the synthetic cell matter? Perspectives on Science, 32 (3). pp. 394-414. ISSN 1063-6145

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Abstract

This paper examines how scientific understanding is enhanced by virtual entities, focusing on the case of the synthetic cell. Comparing it to other virtual entities and environments in science, we argue that the synthetic cell has a virtual dimension, in that it is functionally similar to living cells, though it does not mimic any particular naturally evolved cell (nor is it constructed to do so). In being cell-like at most, the synthetic cell is akin to many other virtual objects as it is selective and only partially implemented. However, there is one important difference: it is constructed by using the same materials and, to some extent, the same kind of processes as its natural counterparts. In contrast to virtual reality, especially to that of digital entities and environments, the details of its implementation is what matters for the scientific understanding generated by the synthetic cell. We conclude by arguing for the close connection between the virtual and the artifactual.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Broeks, Daphne Knuuttila, Tarja De Regt, Henk
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User:	Unnamed user with email m.zichert@tu-berlin.de
Date Deposited:	17 Mar 2026 12:24
Last Modified:	17 Mar 2026 12:24
Item ID:	28646
Journal or Publication Title:	Perspectives on Science
Publisher:	MIT Press
Official URL:	https://direct.mit.edu/posc/article/doi/10.1162/po...
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1162/posc_a_00612
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date:	2024
Page Range:	pp. 394-414
Volume:	32
Number:	3
ISSN:	1063-6145
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28646

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• Understanding, virtually: How does the synthetic cell matter? (deposited 02 Feb 2024 09:17)
  • Understanding, virtually: How does the synthetic cell matter? (deposited 17 Mar 2026 12:24) [Currently Displayed]

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